God’s Love

God’s love is beyond anything we can imagine. The Bible assures us that when we surrender our lives to Christ, He comes to dwell in our hearts. He removes our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh, so we may begin to grasp the height, width, depth, and length of His love. (Ephesians 3:16-18)

A Father’s Sacrificial Love: A Picture of Jesus’ Sacrifice

I want to share a story that beautifully illustrates a father’s unwavering love for his sons—a story that parallels the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus for us.

There was a father who took his sons on a sailing trip through the Caribbean Islands. The father was negotiating the sailboat between two islands that were fairly close to each other. In this area, the water was notoriously shark infested. One of the islands housed a chicken farm and chicken scraps were tossed into the water.

The father reminded his sons to remain onboard and to not swim in this stretch of water. The boys didn’t take their father’s wise request seriously and made fun of the situation. They started to roughhouse on the boat deck. As things were heating up, one of the sons lost his balance and began to fall overboard. The other son tried to grab him but to no avail, he also fell into the water.

The dad saw what had transpired and shouted to them to swim back immediately and get in the boat. In the water, the boys were pretending to be eaten by sharks, unaware of the potential dire situation.

From the fathers vantage point, he could see that a couple of sharks were starting to swim toward the boys. The father yelled and screamed to warn his sons to swim back. When the boys finally realized that their dad was serious, the danger was eminent. A school of sharks was encircling the boys. The father- knowing that sharks can detect a drop of blood in multiple gallons of water- slit his wrists and jumped overboard opposite of his sons. The sharks swam towards the blood and the two boys were able to get back on deck safely. The father perished.

Divine Protection: Understanding God’s Guidance

This moving story is a powerful metaphor for what God accomplished through His Son. Just as the father risked everything to save his sons, Jesus sacrificed His life to rescue us from sin and spiritual death. His sacrifice assures us that there is no protection outside the will of God. He guides us away from the dangers that surround us, even when our choices lead us near peril.

In our daily lives, unseen threats—like the metaphorical sharks—can appear when we stray from God’s path. Seemingly harmless situations may be orchestrated by ungodly influences, leaving us vulnerable. Yet our Heavenly Father, in His infinite love, desires to steer us toward safe living and abundant joy. To experience this divine protection, we must acknowledge our need for His guidance and surrender to His omniscience.

Embracing Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Living Under Divine Guidance

Accepting Christ’s substitutionary death for our sins secures our place in heaven and brings His protection into our lives now. Those who commit their lives to Christ carry His moral law within their hearts. They recognize the truth that a loving and protective Father always guides them—His commandments are not burdens but blessings. When we heed God’s voice and ask the Holy Spirit to lead us, we experience the safety and abundance of a life aligned with His perfect will.

The Bible reminds us of God’s promise of provision and protection:

“I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.”
(3 John 1:2)
And it encourages us to seek wisdom from our loving Father:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5 NIV)
By living in obedience to His Word, we avoid the hidden dangers that can derail our lives. The Holy Spirit acts as our divine GPS, gently warning us when we stray. If we ignore these warnings, God may allow adverse circumstances to halt our progress—an opportunity for us to reassess our path and realign with His will.

The Assurance of a Loving, Protective Father

Those who have accepted Christ will never have to learn from scratch what it means to love God and put Him first. With His moral law written on our hearts, we understand that His commandments are for our ultimate good. As the Bible teaches in Deuteronomy 28, when we live under God’s guidance, we enjoy the abundant blessings He provides.

Consider this promise from Scripture:

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
— Romans 8:32
This verse reassures us that if God gave us His only Son, He will surely protect, provide, and guide us toward every perfect gift. We need not fear following His path because our Heavenly Father is always watching over us.

Conclusion: Trusting in God’s Divine Protection

In a world where dangers lurk beneath the surface like unseen sharks, embracing God’s guidance is essential. His love is our anchor and shield. When we live by His Word and follow the Holy Spirit’s promptings, we steer clear of the pitfalls that can lead to pain and loss. God’s way is not arbitrary—it is a carefully crafted path leading to prosperity, health, and everlasting joy.

Remember, true safety and abundance come from living under the protective umbrella of God’s grace. Trust in His love, and let the Holy Spirit guide you away from the hidden dangers of life. Embrace the promise of divine protection, knowing that our Heavenly Father’s care is perfect, unfailing, and always timely.

Food For Thougt,

Lisa